Electric connecting plug



Feb. 23, 1943. w. J. EBBITT ELECTRIC CONNECTING PLUG Filed Aug. 19 1941 m il 3nventor Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNlTED STATES" PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONNECTING PLUG William J. Ebbitt, NorthBraddock, Pa.

Application August 19, 1941, Serial No. 407,433

1 Claim.- (Cl. 173-361) This invention relates to an improved electric connecting plug generally of the type commonly connected at the end of an extension cord of an electrically operated appliance for joining the latter to the source of electrical supply. While the invention herein disclosed is embodied in a push type of plug, it will be obvious that the invention may also be employed in connection with a screw type of connecting plug.

Important objects and advantages of the invention are to provide an electric connecting plug of the character described, which includes a body member that is shaped to represent an ornamental figure, object, or design of any suitable nature, which embodies contact elements that are adjustable in the body member, which has a flat rear body face and employs novel means for maintaining the terminals of the conductors associated therewith from projecting beyond the plane of said rear body face, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efiicient in its use, compact, attractive in appearance, and comparatively economical in its manufacture and convenient to manipulate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel, construction,

design, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that the latter i merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, and that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, front and rear views of an electric connecting plug constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, side and bottom plan views of the insulating cup embodied in the invention.

Figure 6 is a modified form of ornamental body member.

Referring in detail to the drawing my improved electric connecting plug comprises a body member I, which is shaped to represent the head of a dog. A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of embodyin therein a y member in the form of any desired attractive and ornamental figure or design, as for instance, in

Figure 6 the body member 2 is shaped to represent a, basket of flowers. The body member may be constructed of or preferably molded to shape from any suitable, light weight insulating material, and may be artistically and colorfully finished to meet any condition found in practice.

A cylindrical insulating cup 3, including a reduced integral pocket 4 projecting rearwardly from the bottom thereof is mounted in a correspondingly shaped recess 5 formed in the body member I. The cup 3 is adjustably secured in the body member by means of a bolt 6, which extends through an aperture I in the bottom of the pocket 4 and engages a nut 8 permanently fixed by being embedded in the body member.

A pair of contact elements, of the usual conventional construction and arrangement, are fixed in position against the inner side of the side wall of the insulating cup 3. The contact elements carry a pair of terminal connecting screws Ill, and include a pair of spaced, parallel disposed contact fingers 9. The open end of the cup is at the fiat rear or back II of the body member I, and the contact fingers 9 project rearwardly from said back wall I I.

The back wall II is formed with an annular groove I2 surrounding the open end of the insulating cup 3, and with a straight groove I3, which extends radially with respect to the axis of the annular groove I2 and opens into the latter. The grooves I2 and I3 are provided to receive the terminals of the conductor cord I4 and to prevent the latter from projecting beyond the plane of the back wall II of the body member I.

The open end of cup 3 is formed with an outwardly disposed annularfiange I5, which projects into the annular groove I2 and engages the conductor terminals to maintain the latter in position within the annular groove I2. The flange I5 and adjacent portions of the side wall of the cup 3 are provided with a pair of spaced notches I6 for the passage of the conductor terminals when same are secured to the contact elements by means of the screws II] in the manner well known in the art to which the invention appertains.

A removable insulating disk I! is frictionally fitted in the cup pocket 4 to cover the head of the securing bolt 6, to prevent liability of contact with the latter by the connected terminals of the conductors I4. By releasing the bolt 6, the cup 3 together with the contact elements carried thereby may be revolubly adjusted in the body member I. Such adjustment is an important feature of the invention, as it allows the positioning of the contact finger 9 to any position required to adapt same to properly engage in the associated contact sockets, and thereby support the ornamentally designed body member I in its proper position.

The back wall ll of the body member I is flat and may be covered by an insulating sheet I8 to enclose the contact elements with the exception of the contact fingers 9. The back wall II is intended to be positioned flatly against a supporting wall or against the face of the conventional wall plate carrying the electric contact sockets.

The present invention provides a most attractive and ornamental device of its kind, which may be economically constructed and successfully employed in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

What I claim is:

An electric connecting plug for a conductor cord, comprising the combination of a body member provided with a rearwardly opening recess, an insulating cap having its bottom formed with a reduced pocket mounted in said recess, a nut embedded in said member, a bolt engaged in said pocket and being engaged in said nut for adjustably securing said cup in said member a pair of contact elements including a pair of rearwardly projecting contact fingers carried by said cup, a pair of terminal connecting screws carried by said contact elements, an insulating disk frictionally engaged in said pocket to enclose said bolt, the outer end of this side wall of said recess being formed with an annular groove for the passage of the cord, the rear wall of said member formed with a straight groove for the passage of the cord and being disposed radially with respect to the axis of said annular groove, an outwardly disposed flange carried at the outer end of said cup and projecting into said annular groove to maintain the cord in the latter, said flange and the adjacent portions of side wall of said cup being provided with a pair of spaced notches for the passage of the cord, and an insulating sheet positioned against the back wall of said member, said fingers extending through and supporting said sheet.

WILLIAM J. EBBITT. 

